I’ve been thinking about when I get home. There’s a farmhouse about nine miles from my parents that’s up for sale and there’s also a vet’s practice – country based – that I could buy into. I’m thinking both could be an option. I could work for the zoo as a consultant when they need me and this could be developed to run with decent vets who want the opportunity to work abroad for periods of time. Sort of like a big vet agency. Kind of.
I’ve not explained that very well.
There are three professional stables nearby as well that are interested in a horse specialist.
Tell me you’re interested, Serendipity.
Love Callum x
FROM:[email protected]
RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:RE: Missing
DATE: 26 May
I’m interested.
It was two words.Two words that meant a fuck ton more than what they represented. This wasn’t about a country practice that guaranteed an element of freedom, it was about us. Her and me having some sort of future.
I was out in the fields, on Hainan Island, taking a few minutes out after giving a direct to camera talk about the monkeys. We were desperately short on time, with the crew having been split and a couple of extras having to join us but the wildlife had so far been playing along and giving us enough decent footage to be able to speed through what we needed.
No one’s heart was in it. This wasn’t Africa, although the places were equally spectacular and the animals incredible, there wasn’t the same camaraderie as there had been before and any question of me doing any further work needed to be on hold.
“How’s Wren?” Steve, one of the crew, asked. “Are you seeing her? If she’s single, I wouldn’t mind having a shot.”
For the first time in my life I knew what it was like to be possessive. “I’m seeing her.”
“Well done, man. She’s worth it.”
He was a good bloke and I didn’t need to punch him.
“She is.”
He nodded, serious. “Didn’t think you’d be one to settle down. All those pictures of you with models and whoever. Not sure how you could give that up.”
“Why?”
“All that pussy. Fit women falling in your lap. Why stick with just one woman when you can have all that?”
“It gets boring.” That was the truth. “And I like Wren.”
“You knew her at college?”
“We were friends.”
“You like her then?”
“She wasn’t interested.”
Steve laughed. “Seriously? Maybe there is a god. Good luck with it all anyway, Cal. I finished with my girlfriend about six weeks ago. Four years and it’s over. Waste of fucking time.” He walked away, shaking his head.
I leaned against a tree, watching a monkey in the distance. Anything else - fear, worry, panic – was buried with how much I was missing her.
I pulled out my phone and called her, no idea what she was doing, doubted she’d answer.
She answered on the third ring.
